Identifying women who will request sterilization reversal in a military population

OBJECTIVE: We sought to identify the characteristics of women in a military population who are likely to seek a tubal anastomosis after a previous bilateral tubal ligation (BTL). METHOD: A written investigational review board-approved questionnaire was administered to 56 women, ages 18-40 years, requesting evaluation for a reversal of a prior BTL and 52 women of the same age range not seeking reversal. The questionnaire identified demographics and relationship characteristics of volunteers at the time of their decision to have a BTL and at the present time. RESULTS: Age 25 years or younger, sterilization due to pressure from a partner, poor marital relationship at the time of the BTL and a new marriage are highly predictive of tubal sterilization regret and a request for sterilization reversal in a military population. In addition, women requesting a tubal anastomosis reported less preoperative counseling on the permanence of a BTL and of the male alternative for permanent female sterilization, vasectomy. CONCLUSION: Women with these characteristics should have extensive counseling before undergoing tubal sterilization.